based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w5d3
THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)
Scripture: John 11:1-44 / SOAP: verses 25-27
esus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.”
John 11:25-27
“Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” This line of an old hymn came to my mind as I read and reread this passage. The world we live in brings physical death to everyone at some point. We cannot escape it this side of heaven for we live in a fallen world. Lazarus had become sick (3) and, as Jesus said, had “fallen asleep.”(11) – Jesus also said He was going to awaken Lazarus – and awaken him He did! – Four days he had lay dead in the grave but when Jesus called to Lazarus, His friend, he arose and walked out of the grave! (11, 17, and 44)
Jesus uses this death and life situation to introduce or identify Himself as “The resurrection and the life.” According to gotquestions.org, “When Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He was claiming to be the source of both. There is no resurrection apart from Christ, and there is no eternal life apart from Christ. Beyond that, Jesus was also making a statement concerning His divine nature. He does more than give life; He is life, and therefore death has no ultimate power over Him. Jesus confers this spiritual life on those who believe in Him, so that they share His triumph over death (1 John 5:11-12). Believers in Jesus Christ will experience resurrection because, having the life Jesus gives, it is impossible for death to defeat them (1 Corinthians 15:53-57).”
Note that this life and power to defeat death does not belong to everyone but to those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Todays focus passage and the verses leading up to them reveal Martha’s deep faith in Jesus.
In verse 21-24, Martha professes her deep faith in the power of Jesus. Then Jesus proclaims Himself to be the resurrection and the life – a statement that is wonderfully explained by gotquestions.org:
Jesus’ statement that He is the resurrection and the life provides a godly perspective on several spiritual matters. Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is a Person. Martha’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus proved that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship. Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrects her, showing that victory is a present reality.
gotquestions.org / I Am the resurrection and the life
Following this “I Am” statement to Martha, Jesus asks her a crucial question concerning her faith, saying – “Do you believe this?”
After presenting Himself as the resurrection and the life, and clarifying that “the one who believes in Him will live even if he dies,” Jesus asks Martha a crucial question concerning her faith, saying – “Do you believe this?”(John 11:26). This time Martha responds with a statement of faith in who Jesus is, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was to come into the world” (verse 27).
I look at this and I can’t help but think how Jesus could have gone straight to the grave yet he addresses Martha’s pain first and does this by reminding her, not of what He could do but of who He was. He wanted her (and us) to understand that the resurrection is not an abstract idea but a Person and the catalyst of eternal life through a personal relationship with Him. For Martha, “victory over death was a future expectation,” as she stated in verse 24 – saying, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” However, Jesus wanted her to see that “victory is a present reality” – when we believe in the one who is: “The Resurrection and the Life.”
LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Believe, not just in the power of Jesus, but in who Jesus is – “the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world to seek and save the lost – in order that all who believe will have eternal life through Him
Make Christ known to those around you – be bold and faithful to share who He is and to ask the crucial question of faith – “Do you believe?”
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY
Father, may Martha’s faith be an inspiration that leads us to affirm our faith in You and in Your Son – both in His power and in who He is. May we, like Christ, identify and share Him as “the resurrection and the life,” clarifying that whoever believes in Him will live, even if he dies,” Then, Spirit – give us boldness to ask the crucial question of faith that Jesus asked Martha – “Do You believe this?”
THE MORE WE KNOW
“This sickness will not lead to death.”
For it is by grace that we have been saved through FAITH: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:15-16; Acts 16:31; and Rom 10:9-10
For more insight read today’s blog post
If you (or someone you know) do not know Jesus or you have questions about what it means to believe in Jesus and be saved – I invite you to read “Know These Truths.” You will find answers and hope and the opportunity to have eternal life!
Me From the Inside Out 